The Mist and the Lightning. Part II

"Ooh! It would be better if you kept silent!"

Nikto turned away, put his head onto his bent knee.

"I would let him look at your arm if I were you," Tol said worriedly.

"Is he, like, a doctor?"

"Well, he is, in a way."

"Then let him heal himself first!"

"But he wants to help you," Squint-Eye said.

"Why should I ask for his help?"

"You don't even ask, he offers it."

"And you put him down with your refusal," Tol added.

"What? I put him down? He doesn't care!"

"I wonder why you think so."

"He isn't with us, he is infinitely far away. I look at his transparent eyes and don't see anything, like there is nothing inside. He's empty and it's driving me mad!"

"Maybe it makes you angry because you don't see your reflection in his eyes," Squint-Eye said quietly.

"I'm not empty and I have feelings," Nikto said.

Squint-Eye laughed.

"Do you really love Orel?"

Nikto kept silent.

"He loves his gods," Enriki shook his head. "Why would he decorate himself with their images otherwise?"

"He simply likes to draw," Lis smirked.

"That tattoo on his shoulder, it's like a spit at our faces! You could at least have some respect to our religion," Enriki continued, "and not tattoo such openly blasphemy drawings."

"Why that?" Nikto said.

"Oh really!"

"Come on, cool down. I've spent enough time with you and haven't seen you worshipping your gods even once. Though there were some of your religious holidays during that time. Or am I wrong?"

"No, you're not," Lis laughed.

Nikto grinned in reply, showing his filed but still impressive fangs; it was a smile of a predator admitting his strength. He'd never done that before in their presence. He showed them what they wanted to see. He was magnificent.

"You're not a human," Enriki said. "You're not a human and you don't even try to become one."

* * *

When Nikto came back to his room, he saw Orel who lay in his bed with a half-empty bottle in his hand.